MNL

09/01/2026

Did you visit us at the Minnesota State Fair, get a Buy 2 Get 1 six-pack of plants, and now have no idea what you’re doing?
Or maybe you’re planning a fall planting because it’s one of the best times to get native perennials in the ground.
Don’t stress the garden. That’s not what it’s about.
A garden is what you make it. Put in a ton of effort or keep it simple. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.
The important thing is getting the plants in the ground.
You know the “the best time to plant a tree...” mentality? That applies to native grasses and forbs too.

08/28/2026

Hey, UMN's plant of the week is our favorite...always the Monarch's favorite food source.
If you're at Minnesota State Fair check out the Blue Book there maybe a special deal if you visit us for 6 of suckers.

One of five blazing star species native to Minnesota, meadow blazing star adds bold, thistle-like flower spikes to the summer garden. It grows about 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide in full sun and well-drained soil. Most notably, its nectar-rich flowers are a favorite of monarch butterflies, making it a beautiful and beneficial addition to a pollinator garden.

08/26/2026

Visit MNL’s Pollinator Park at the Minnesota State Fair! 🐝🌸🍿

Explore native plants, discover what a thriving pollinator habitat can look like, and get inspired to bring a little more native ecosystem home. 🏡🦋

While you’re there, grab a free native seed packet, shop native plugs and seed, and check out our native ecosystem-inspired apparel. 👕

Find MNL on the west side of Underwood St. between Murphy & Lee avenues (About a block northwest of the Eco Experience and Blue Thumb booth).

Thank you, MNL, for supporting Blue Thumb as a sponsor! 💙

08/26/2026

We're here, the plants are here, the pollinators are here. We're waiting on one key element... you!

Opening day is less than 24 hours away, and everything is blooming. Come see us on Underwood St., next to your favorite cookie jar😉.

We've got six-packs of native plugs (60+ species!) for $20, buy two get one free.
Also available:
100 and 500 square foot seed mix packets,
New apparel
Yard signs
Butterfly fan
& Seed packet giveaways,

We'll also have small DIY classes on how to germinate your own native seeds, with a take-home gift🪴

We can wait to meet and talk plants and pollinators with you all!

08/20/2026

One week, 7 days, 168 hours, 10,080 minutes...how many ways can count to basically say....we're flippin' excited for the Minnesota State Fair .

And here's something we're positively BEEaming about -
NEW APPAREL!!!

A Pollinator Park hat you'll find nowhere else, a classic vintage look with a bold embroidered logo of the Park whose colors stand tall against the natural fabric of the cap.

An American Bison (Bison) t-shirt that shows a particular fondness to the this stately animal of the prairie. Presented in navy blue on 100% cotton.

Bringing back a popular design from last year's line, the Goldfinch, coneflower, and butterfly artwork is now available in a crewneck sweater. An understated addition to your wardrobe as fall swiftly approaches.

And a nod to our 2026 seed packet design, you can where proudly the great state of Minnesota presented in native flora bouquet on your chest. 100% cotton and a one-of-a-kind pickup at the Fair.

Of course, we'll have all the favorites of last year as well.
Special note that on Deal Days for the Fair you save 25% on any piece of apparel from us with the purchase of any native plant product.

We can hardly contain ourselves,
We'll see you there!

08/17/2026

30 days of restored prairie in 30 seconds. Taken from mid-June to mid-July, we can watch the late-season grasses grow tall while a succession of flowers blooms from day to day, week by week. A timelapse like this shows a lot, but one thing it illustrates especially well is why planting for bloom times matters. Some of these plants may only bloom for a few days before they’re successfully pollinated. Keeping a succession of flowers in bloom throughout the season helps provide a continuous source of nectar and pollen for pollinators.

08/12/2026

Prescribed fires and wildfires are a completely different beast, but our guys are trained to tame them both.

Our Red Rock Fire crew is out in Montana helping suppress the Skillet Fire, not far from Kalispell. They’re working as tactical water tenders, refilling aerial drops from a Chinook helicopter, while also mopping up and taking on spot fires.

It’s been a long, hot summer for this team. They’re coming off wildfires in northern Minnesota, and I’m sure we all remember the smoke that blanketed us this year.

But a huge shoutout and THANK YOU to our Red Rock Fire crew for the hard work, dedication, and courage they continue to bring to an incredibly difficult and demanding job. The work doesn’t seem to end, but they keep showing up and getting it done.

And if you’re someone who’s adventurously drawn to the flame, we have open positions in the field of fire. Check them out on our careers page:
mnlcorp.com/careers/

Stay safe out there, guys!

08/06/2026

"Hey MNL!... I thought we were supposed to get new native seed packet artwork every year... Where's 2026's???"

We waited for a very special State Fair edition! We're launching a native plant collage, Minnesota-themed packet that will be an exclusive giveaway at the Fair (as if you needed another reason to come see us :)

We're also showcasing our Prairie Plant Butterfly packets, which will be available all year long, starting now!

So, all you native seed packet collectors (I know you're out there), don't panic, we've got beautiful new artwork to add to your collection. And you can't miss the exclusive State Fair artwork... you have to come see us!

Here's the list of species for the nerds:
Little Bluestem
Columbine
Fragrant Giant Hyssop
Rose Milkweed
Purple Prairie Clover
Common Ox-Eye
Prairie Blazing Star
Wild Bergamot
Black-Eyed Susan
Showy Goldenrod
Smooth Blue Aster
Hoary Vervain
Golden Alexanders

08/04/2026

Seeing prairie restoration happen at a large scale is becoming more common than you might think.

Some of the most exciting conversions are happening at solar sites like the one at Pine Bend. We had the honor of hosting Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association , Friends of the Mississippi River , Flint Hills Resources and a fantastic group of clean energy advocates for a tour of Pine Bend, where a thriving third-year native prairie is flourishing beneath a solar array, a great example of agrivoltaics in action.

Here, the land is producing clean solar energy above while remaining productive below. MNL's rotational sheep grazing program helps manage native grasses and wildflowers, while the restored prairie stabilizes soil, rebuilds soil structure following construction, supports pollinators, and reduces wildfire fuel loads.

It's a terrific example of how to handle the expansive need for clean energy in the form of solar panels, rather than taking farmland out of production, sites like Pine Bend demonstrate how renewable energy, agriculture, and habitat restoration can work together to meet our energy needs while strengthening the landscape.

As more and more solar projects come online across the Midwest, agrivoltaic sites like Pine Bend show that energy production and healthy, productive land aren't at odds with each but can be used in tandem to produce energy, while protecting habitat, and supporting farmers.

07/30/2026

We recently had the wonderful opportunity to host an exhibitor's booth at the Perennial Plant Association in East Lansing, Michigan. For more than 40 years, this conference has brought together the scholars and industry professionals who breed new cultivars, establish trends in landscape design, and help drive the plant production and distribution economy. To our delight, this year's conference placed a strong emphasis on the unstoppable shift toward native plants in the landscape.

What did we learn from the conference?

Gardeners, designers, and retailers are allies to habitat restorationists. The best way to promote native plants in residential and public gardens is to embrace them alongside traditional landscape practices, using cultivars and non-native ornamentals with thoughtful intention. By meeting traditional gardeners halfway, we can invite more people to discover the beauty and ecological value of native plants in their own landscapes.

The industry is currently struggling to keep pace with demand for native plants. Expanding the availability of high-quality native seed and plants across the Midwest will require collaboration, innovation, and continued investment at every level; from small, local growers to large-scale producers.

Native plants and ecological restoration are becoming part of the mainstream conversation. What was once dismissed as "just weeds" is increasingly recognized as an essential part of thriving ecosystems. People are asking each other what native species are growing in their yards, and what are they planting next to ensure healthy habitat. This growing awareness is changing the way we think about our landscapes and our relationship with the natural world.

Exciting times are ahead of us! There are meaningful challenges to meet, but there is also tremendous momentum. Thank you for the important work that you do.
-Ridge Campbell,
MNL's Greenhouse Manager